Why Did BioWare Spoil A Mass Effect 2 Ending At E3? Ray Muzyka Answers

22 Comments Posted August 12, 2009 - By Patrick Klepek

Why Did BioWare Spoil A Mass Effect 2 Ending At E3? Ray Muzyka Answers

(Note: If you don't want to know anything about Mass Effect 2's story, don't read this).

The Mass Effect 2 demonstration at E3 was phenomenally impressive, largely because BioWare decided to not only reveal the player's actions in Mass Effect 2 could result in the death of Shepard and his crew but BioWare showed it, too. Upon reflection, though, I've come to wonder about the implications of that decision. Had gamers not known about that possibility, it would have made an incredible surprise. Now, when you boot up Mass Effect 2, that knowledge will affect the decisions you make. You know about the doomsday ending. Why would BioWare do that?

I asked BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka over e-mail to explain BioWare's decision making process. For a company with so many secrets, why disclose this major spoiler?

"It's complicated and not all is as it might seem at first glance," explained Muzyka.

"Mass Effect 2, like other BioWare titles such as Dragon Age: Origins, is full of awesome twists and turns, so even discussing the premise of the story is tricky," he continued. "We have to remain fairly cryptic about what we’ve shown and what it meant. The reason we showed what we did at E3 was to illustrate the concept of the game while leaving as much as possible 'unspoiled.'"

Muzyka appears keenly aware that having players know about the possible consequences for Shepard and co. will affect their decision making process. If anything, revealing this scenario at E3 was BioWare showing a card from its hand to prove a point.

"Ultimately it comes down to the fact that the core idea of the story in Mass Effect 2 is the fact that you know from the start how dangerous the mission is at the end, and that much of the story is about how you prepare for it," said Muzyka. "To be serious about the suicide mission concept, we’ve implemented the possibility that Shepard and team could die in the end – thus elevating the importance of powerful choices and emotionally engaging consequences."

Mass Effect 2 Story Reveal Dev Diary »

The way Muzyka describes the scene's narrative context provides some insight into what BioWare has set up and its knowledge of the potential impact. We are BioWare's puppets. Muzyka told me the scene where Shepard and others met an untimely fate is not the "actual ending" to Mass Effect 2 and was merely a "pretty dramatic scene" meant to underscore the stakes of the game.

"It’s a fine distinction we’re drawing here," he said, "but when people read about what was shown at E3, we think it’s a good thing since it helps capture the concept of the game and shows we’re serious about creating an emotionally engaging experience."

His final words on the subject get to the heart of the matter.

"We’ve intentionally left many things unclear," he said, "such as *when* that scene takes place and *how* it fits into the overall story. Lots more to reveal still!"

Like I said, we're puppets. Expectedley, the scene should make sense once we know more about Mass Effect 2's large story and less of a spoiler, once the pieces are in place. Hopefully.

Tags: PC Gaming, Videogames, Xbox 360

Comments

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amazingjakeo

all of this is OLD news.

Posted: August 12, 2009 8:44 AM | Reply | Report

-9 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
backerman

I can't wait to play mass effect 2. I am playing mass effect 3rd time now.

Posted: August 12, 2009 8:44 AM | Reply | Report

+7 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
Zack_Nero

This game seems like one of a kind now, I gotta play this game!

Posted: August 12, 2009 8:53 AM | Reply | Report

+5 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
RyannWeller

I'm waiting for the last official DLC for the original Mass Effect to play through the game a 4th and final time before moving on to ME2!

Posted: August 12, 2009 8:53 AM | Reply | Report

+7 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
maxmike18

yea i am so happy that i saved my me 1 game progress for me 2 because my game character is level 60 and should make things easier in mass effect 2

Posted: August 12, 2009 8:55 AM | Reply | Report

-4 thumbs up thumbs down

2 Replies
josephbloseph

I hadn't actually caught this part of E3, so for me, BioWare didn't spoil any Mass Effect 2 endings, G4 did.

Posted: August 12, 2009 9:05 AM | Reply | Report

0 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
RRODisBack

@Patrick Klepek

That's part of your job. In my opinion, every time you guys play a piece of a game early it spoils it. Wouldn't you agree?

Posted: August 12, 2009 9:13 AM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
ddc2494

if my level from ME doesnt carry over to ME2 im going to be pissed off as much time i put into that game..

Posted: August 12, 2009 9:13 AM | Reply | Report

-5 thumbs up thumbs down

6 Replies
scoobythebeast

Im kinda glad the levels arent carrying over. It would make ME2 way to easy and maybe just discurage players that didnt play mass effect to play this one.

Posted: August 12, 2009 9:58 AM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
AgainstIgnorance

Playing through my 5th time currently, to get my ultimate story. I'm pissed that they aren't carrying at least some skills over. I worked hard to get a half biotic, half soldier with assault rifle training. I also hope Wrex, Garrus, and Ashley are back in the second game.

But I've come up with a theory. I believe the mission they showed at E3 is after the destroyed ship scene. See I think that if Shepard survives that, he figures out that is the ultimate threat he'll have to face on the suicide mission. SO he uses the ship's destruction as a cover for his death. If you remember in the trailer, during that mission they showed, when he finds the asari, she exclaims that she thought Shepard was dead. So I think that after the ship destruction team, Shepard realizes he's going to need a hardened crew to take down whatever nearly killed him.

OOH... I cannot wait for this game... and Halo 3 ODST, and MW2, and Borderlands, and Assassin's Creed 2, and Lost Planet 2. Damn, too many good games this winter.

Posted: August 12, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Report

+8 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
Stukes

i get cised. REAL CISED.

Posted: August 12, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
mckin3228

ok still don't have any word to describe this game.

Posted: August 12, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
implodinggoat

Despite its numerous flaws and the sad fact that it was rushed to get out on time Mass Effect is easily my favorite game of this generation and very possibly my favorite game ever. If Mass Effect 2 can deliver the full potential that Mass Effect had (and from what I've seen I'm optimistic), I have little doubt that it will be the best game I've ever played.

Posted: August 12, 2009 1:12 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
CJ_Peeps

I saw this demo at E3, and I didn't think for one second that they gave anything away. Casey Hudson said it best, when he said, "We do not expect you to survive," and it's refreshing to have a game with real consequences.

Mass Effect 1 made it clear that people on your crew are fair game, and Mass Effect 2 is making it clear that you could all get wiped out. I like that very much, and I will play ME2 at least twenty times just so I can experience all there is to offer.

Posted: August 12, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
NortheastMonk

But every game you buy leaves you thinking the main character lives (outside of Heavinly Sword). this is a great idea imo. Endless potential.

Posted: August 12, 2009 1:38 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
WhiteWolfAssassin

I love story, but I think people put too much emphasis on the endings of the story. They act as if that if you know the ending, their is no point in knowing the rest of the story and that none of that matters. There is more to a story then just it's ending and the most important part is how the story reaches the end. Great you know the ending, but is it not more interesting to know how it came to that conclusion. Well in order to do that, your going to have to start at the beginning.

Posted: August 12, 2009 2:38 PM | Reply | Report

0 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
dynomite

does that inlcude the choice u make on the bring down the sky mission download content?

Posted: August 12, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
Dredgon

Looks sick can't wait! This is just one of many games I am looking forward to late 2009-early 2010, along with Assassin's Creed II, BioShock 2, Aliens vs Predator, and Mafia II!!!!! Who says Winter is a bad month?!

Posted: August 12, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
dwplive

mass effect is one of the best, if not the best, experience i have had in gaming.. i trust bioware implicitly and i think mass effect 2 is going to absolutely stun the gaming world... i have great expectations and high hopes for this title.. easily my most anticipated game of 2010.. bar none

Posted: August 12, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies
lyoko2

i was gunna buy heavy rain but then i found out mass effect .i just thru that idea out of the room

Posted: August 12, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

0 Replies